The tables below outline the current frequency of issue of aviation weather information in New Zealand.
Note: All issue and validity times are UTC.
| Areas | Issue times1 | Validity period1 | Validity period (hrs) |
| 17 Areas in NZ (previously the ARFOR areas) | 1100 2100 |
1200 - 0600 2100 - 1200 |
18 15 |
1Issue and validity times one hour earlier during NZDT.
| Area | Issue times | Validity period | Validity period (hrs) |
| NZZC FIR |
1400 |
1500-21001, 2100-0300 2100-03001, 0300-0900 0300-09001, 0900-1500 0900-15001, 1500-2100 |
6, 6 6, 6 6, 6 6, 6 |
1 Update of previously issued chart.
| Area | Issue times1 | Valid times1 | Validity period2 |
| New Zealand (NZZC FIR) |
1100 2100 |
1800, 0000, 0600 0000, 0600, 1200 |
+/- 3 hours +/- 3 hours |
1Issue and validity times one hour earlier during NZDT.
2Forecasts have a validity of +/- 3 hours of the stated valid times.
| Areas | Issue times | Valid times | Issue frequency |
| GRIB Wind, Temperature, Humidity, Icing, Turbulence, CB cloud and Tropopause) |
0430 | 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200 | Daily |
| 1030 | 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500 1800 | Daily | |
| 1630 | 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000 | Daily | |
| 2230 | 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 0000, 0300, 0600 | Daily |
Learn more about METAR, SPECI and METAR-AUTO
| Aerodromes | METAR AUTO | SPECI |
| AA, WN, CH | Issued every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour, 24/7 |
Not issued |
| Aerodromes | METAR | SPECI |
| WP, OH, MF | METAR issued hourly on the hour during ATS operations | Issued as required |
| All other NZ aerodromes including the Chatham Is |
METAR AUTO issued every 30 minutes, on the hour and half hour, 24/7 |
Not issued |
| Type of forecast | Issue time | Valid time | Issue frequency |
| ROFOR | As requested by individual aircraft operators | ||
Learn more about Satellite imagery
| Himawari 8 satellite imagery | Frequency of image |
| Infrared Imagery (IR) Visible Imagery (VIS) Cloud Top Height (incl WAFS model data) |
10min to hourly scans |
| Type of forecast | Issue times | Valid times1 | Issue frequency |
| High level (FL250-FL630) Medium level (FL100-FL250) |
0300 0900 1500 2100 |
1800 0000 0600 1200 |
Daily Daily Daily Daily |
1Charts have a validity of +/- 3 hours of the stated valid times.
Learn more about domestic TAFs
| Aerodromes | Validity period2 | Validity period (hrs) |
| KK, KT, WR, WK, RO, AP, NP, WU, GS, NR, PP, MS, WB, NS, WS, HK, MF, TU, MC, WF, MO, LX, OU, CI | 1200 - 0600 0000 - 1200 |
18 12 |
| TG | 1200 - 0600 0000 - 2100 |
18 21 |
| PM | 1200 - 0600 0000 - 1800 |
18 18 |
| DN, NV | 1200 - 0600 0000 - 1500 |
18 15 |
1Refer to TAF – International.
2Validity times one hour earlier during NZDT, TAFs issued up to one hour prior to validity start.
| Aerodromes | Validity period1 | Validity period (hrs) |
| WP | 1800 - 1800 0000 - 0000 |
24 24 |
| HN | 1200 - 1200 1800 - 1800 0000 - 0000 0600 - 0600 |
24 24 24 24 |
| QN | 1200 - 0600 1800 - 1200 |
18 18 |
1Validity times the same during NZST and NZDT, TAFs issued up to one hour prior to validity start.
Learn more about international TAFs
| Aerodromes | Validity period2 | Validity period (Hrs) |
| AA. WN. CH |
0000 - 0600 |
30 |
1Available for international and domestic flights. The TAFs are also included in the Auckland VOLMET broadcasts.
2The TAFs should not be used before the commencement of the validity periods shown, TAFs issued up to one hour prior to validity start.
Take-off and landing data reports are reports of meteorological conditions at attended aerodromes prepared by the ATS unit immediately prior to a take-off or landing.
Further information on take-off and landing reports can be found in the AIP, GEN 3.5(external link).
Learn more about weather radar
| Radar location | Frequency of radar scan |
| Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Gisborne/Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, Southland, Westland | 7.5min scans |
Learn more about wind and temperature charts
| Type of forecast | Issue times | Valid times1 | Issue frequency |
| Wind and Temperature | 0530 1130 1730 2330 |
1200, 1800, 0000, 0600 1800, 0000, 0600, 1200 0000, 0600, 1200, 1800 0600, 1200, 1800, 0000 |
Daily Daily Daily Daily |
1Charts have a validity of +/- 3 hours of the stated valid times.
If you have any questions about this topic, use our contact form, or email met@caa.govt.nz
